If you ask two people how they’d define characteristics or phenomena associated with consciousness, there is a good chance that you’d receive two differing opinions. So what happens if you ask thirteen?

Imagine living in a world where every conceivable facet of your reality is nothing more than sensory experience devoid of any real meaning; And that your emotions, organs, and even your closest relationships were nothing but pleasurable impulses being transmitted directly into your brain.

The Sunshine Makers examines the life and times of Nicholas Sand and Robert Timothy Scully, the masterminds behind the mythical "Orange Sunshine", a brand of LSD that is still heralded as the purest and to achieve mainstream notoriety. Nick and Tim were directly responsible for much of the LSD that was in circulation during that time and found themselves in the crosshairs of what would eventually fester into what we now know as The War on Drugs.

Frank Yang (born in Taiwan) is an artist and bodybuilder that has made a name for himself with his impressive physique, abstract pieces (primarily photos and videos) and knack for philosophizing about psychology and spirituality. Using YouTube as his primary vehicle, Frank has successfully translated his dynamic persona into thousands of subscribers and millions of views.

Iboga (Tabernanthe iboga) is a psychedelic plant that is native to central Western Africa that has shown the ability to alleviate addiction in individuals that have alcohol, cocaine, or heroin dependency. Currently, the pharmacological options that we have to treat these addictions are limited and fairly ineffective. Ibogaine (one of the alkaloid structures in Iboga) has shown to have some effectiveness in helping sufferers kick their particular habit. One single session with the plant can remove all cravings for up to six months and multiple sessions with the substance can remove cravings for years.

Hikikomori (which essentially translates to "pulling inwards") is a psychological disorder that mimics many of the classic symptoms found in severe depression or social anxiety. Sufferers typically live with their parents, lock themselves inside of their rooms for weeks at a time and only come out in the event of an emergency or if they need to get food, use the restroom, etc. In the more severe cases, some Hikikomori relieve themselves inside of their rooms instead of going to the restroom. During these bouts, these individuals have very little contact with family or friends and can even become belligerent or violent towards themselves or others if asked to come out of their rooms. Many Hikikomori are males in their late teens or early twenties (there have been reported cases of middle aged and elderly individuals as well) that have “failed” at some aspect in their academic or social lives. Seclusion is more often than not a side effect of anxiety, depression, or any other high functioning psychological malady and Japan’s rigid and unforgiving social order has an almost zero tolerance policy for transgression or failure. This is usually the leading cause of this phenomenon. It is estimated that there are several hundred thousand Hikikomori in Japan but this number is actually believed to be much higher and estimates have even reached as high as two million. There have also been cases popping up in other countries around the world so this isn’t something that is exclusive to Japan.

For those of you who missed my previous post, I briefly explained that I’ve only ever experienced the unconditional love of modern lore once in my entire life. Since then (September 4th, 2014) I have been ruminating on what real love is and if it can exist outside of transcendental experiences. In the waking world, there are so many factors that contribute to being in or having love for a certain individual.

Inside the Rift

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Art

Artist, Author, and psychonaut Martin W. Ball has been discussing and representing the intersections between art and metaphysics for some time now. His position on the nature of the psychedelic experience, human ego, and philosophy on what these substances can offer to mankind has been one of great interest to many artists and explorers.

Using the structure surrounding the eye as her canvas, Tal is able to create ethereal art that explores various quadrants of the color spectrum. By doing this, she can effectively convey a palpable sense of whimsy to the viewers.

Daniel’s art has successfully transitioned into different mediums of entertainment (he spent years studying design and has collaborated with industry giants like Hasbro), ranging from toys to animation which speaks volumes about his artistic and business acumen. He has also become a published author producing lighthearted children's literature.

Mind At Large

If you ask two people how they’d define characteristics or phenomena associated with consciousness, there is a good chance that you’d receive two differing opinions. So what happens if you ask thirteen?